There are several questions that Undersheriff Robert Swenszkowski said he expected an independent panel to explore while probing the June 7 standoff that ended with Deputy Kurt Wyman’s death:

Was it necessary for patrol deputies such as Wyman to have been used at the crisis scene? Although sheriff’s policy allows deputies to assist in emergency responses – such as providing light, as Wyman was – something like portable battery-operated lights possibly could better serve that purpose.

What resources could have been used to provide more cover for the deputies and negotiators? The only protection existed by standing behind Wyman’s patrol vehicle, but the Sheriff’s Office is looking at possibly obtaining an armored vehicle.

Could a better designated command structure at the scene have prevented the “gross miscommunication” that may have played a role in Wyman’s decision to approach Christian Patterson, who was armed with a shotgun? According to testimony in Patterson’s trial, not every officer was aware of when certain actions were going to be taken and some officers recalled hearing orders shouted – such as “Take him now!” – without any clear idea of what was happening.

Was preventing Patterson from killing himself too much of a priority? “Did we get so involved in worrying about this person hurting himself that we put ourselves at a higher risk? Is that what happened here?” Swenszkowski asked. Maybe there were others ways for law enforcement to “capitalize” on Patterson’s behavior, especially if he was getting tired.

Should more manpower have been called to the scene from the start? Perhaps a standard protocol should require that additional personnel is automatically called to respond in such cases instead of “guessing,” and then relieved as necessary.

Should there be specific joint-training between crisis negotiators and members of the sheriff’s Emergency Response Team? Budgetary constraints have limited training, but Swenszkowski questioned whether that has sacrificed safety and increased the potential for civil lawsuits. Since Wyman’s death, members of the Sheriff’s Office are participating in a program about assisting in crisis situations, and the Oneida County Law Enforcement Coalition is working toward a cost-effective regional training program.